Building steel gates.

**loneranger** · 4th April 2014, 07:41 PM

I'm having solid colorbond gates installed on Monday that are 1.75 wide each. The frames are steel tubing not sure what size. The post is 100 x 100 and 80ml into the ground. They installed the post last Tuesday to allow the time for the concrete to set. When they're in I'll post the frame tubing size.

**uninformed** · 4th April 2014, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by sheerluck

Steel, even galvanised, will eventually succumb too. And steel posts would not achieve the look that I want, so I would not consider that to be "doing it right".

Well I did not quote you and was not telling you to do steel. I was not aware that the OP was guided by your asthetcial needs

I, as someone with a little experience, was offering my professional opinion. While nothing lasts for ever, id bet Dura Gal, installed correctly will be multiple life spans of timber posts.

**350RRC** · 4th April 2014, 08:52 PM

Hi,

I sometimes make timber gates and whole entrances for wineries, private, etc.

Biggest would be a bit over 4m (per gate). Did the whole design and fab/install for Best's at Great Western (custom posts, pickets, etc) and designed & made the Leura Park gates on the Bellarine Pen (I did not design those hinges!!!).

If you know timber and modern tech they could well outlast steel. I make stuff to theoretically last forever if it is maintained.

cheers, DL

**uninformed** · 5th April 2014, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by 350RRC

Hi,

I sometimes make timber gates and whole entrances for wineries, private, etc.

Biggest would be a bit over 4m (per gate). Did the whole design and fab/install for Best's at Great Western (custom posts, pickets, etc) and designed & made the Leura Park gates on the Bellarine Pen (I did not design those hinges!!!).

If you know timber and modern tech they could well outlast steel. I make stuff to theoretically last forever if it is maintained.

cheers, DL

See the "bold" above, thats the biggest thing. I make my living with timber, but steel has it place thats for sure. Timber if the customer request no questions. I believe the OP is the customer in this instance…

A steel gate can be made lighter size for size than a timber gate. That in itself should add to longevity

BTW, Id like to see pics of your work

**superquag** · 5th April 2014, 07:47 PM

"...Geez mate, if you get those kinds of breezes I'd be ditching the corrugated idea for a more flow through design!..."

Yep, the current one is pickets, and even that gets blown savagely. - See the highly engineered solution...

This is what is meant by UN-maintained wood. (cheap jarrah) Only 17 years old, and soaked in linseed oil when a year old. Nothing since. 'Use-By' date would have been 3~4 years ago...

Reckon I could have extended it another 5 years with galv. or brass screws, and perhaps a re-oiling or painting.

**uninformed** · 5th April 2014, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by superquag

"...Geez mate, if you get those kinds of breezes I'd be ditching the corrugated idea for a more flow through design!..."

Yep, the current one is pickets, and even that gets blown savagely. - See the highly engineered solution...

This is what is meant by UN-maintained wood. (cheap jarrah) Only 17 years old, and soaked in linseed oil when a year old. Nothing since. 'Use-By' date would have been 3~4 years ago...

Reckon I could have extended it another 5 years with galv. or brass screws, and perhaps a re-oiling or painting.

unless you re oiled it every 12 months or less, it would not be anything like when it was new, gal steel on the other hand….

**Gary S11** · 5th April 2014, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by loneranger

I'm having solid colorbond gates installed on Monday that are 1.75 wide each. The frames are steel tubing not sure what size. The post is 100 x 100 and 80ml into the ground. They installed the post last Tuesday to allow the time for the concrete to set. When they're in I'll post the frame tubing size.

I would have set the posts a bit deeper ..

**Piddler** · 6th April 2014, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by MR LR

For household gates you could make the post out of 50x50 duragal, bearing in mind the gates will only be 1.5 long, I'd probably step it up to 75x75 though, the gate frames I'd make from 40x40, you'll really appreciate having solid gates. If you are bolting one side to the brick wall just use 40x40 for that post too.

For the hinges, a piece of 16mm bright bar, with a single ball bearing in the top and a sleeve welded to the gate that slots over that (so they are lift-off).

I'd avoid timber at all costs, it's no where near as rigid as steel, and as I said before solid gates are fantastic.

Cheers
Will

Hi Guys,
this is a topic I do have knowledge on. I am an Engineer by Profession and have a super set of gates at my place that have been in 12 months not sagged or moved in any way in reactive soil.

I built these and installed myself and installed the solar powerd automatic opener and have had no trouble what so ever.
The opening is 4000mm I have 2 gates 2000mm long and 1500 high. Photo attached.

Outside frame of gates is 50 x 50 x 2 shs duragalv. Inside fill is 50x3 flat on its edge and same material across as brace. They are not too heavy.

Posts are 125x125x4 SHS. The Posts are 2800mm long with a 1000mm of them in the ground. The holes the posts are in are 600mm round 1000mm deep filled with concrete.

Either side I have a concrete slab with a Gabion basket filled with Blue Metal Rocks Baseball size. I have welded a lug on the uprights it is connected by rod and turnbuckle to a tie point in the slab through the gabion. They under slight tension and will not move.

Solar Gear and Hinges came from BMG imports Barry is the guys name. We have 3 remotes, a keypad on the outside for guests on a 50x50x2.0 SHS post so they dont have to get out of car and a push button for them to let themselves out on the inside on a 50x50x2 SHS post. $1050.00 all included delivered to Tasmania. Operators etc all are Stainless Steel and brackets cadnium plated. I am very happy with the quality supplied.

Driveway Gates - Gate Openers - BMG Imports

Anyway works really well no sag, that's what I would do something like this. I have attached a photo, (before Solar Operators were put on) they are all painted with Killrust Bright Red.
I would not use wood that's for sure.

Cheers

Thread: Building steel gates.

Thread Tools

Auto Steel Gates

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions